Dertinger's Shot of the Week

Last night's Northampton County Council meeting was a little more civil than the circus that came to town last time this bunch met. Still, council member Charles Dertinger decided to micromanage the elections office.

Northampton County Exec John Stoffa: "Charles, that office is operating better now than it ever has been, and you know it."

Dertinger (sarcastically): "I'm sure it is. Actually, I don't know that, but it's always good for you to tell me what I don't know."

Northampton County Council Has a New Solicitor

. . . and it's not one of the political players I was concerned about last week. Northampton County Council instead appointed Anthony Martino, an attorney in Leonard Zito's firm. Zito, council's former solicitor, is now a Northampton County judge.

Top Ten Reason Why Sam Might be Late For a Debate

At Wednesday night's Debate at the Slate, congressional challenger Sam Bennett was late. Express Times reporter Doug Brill writes she was only tardy by seven minutes, but the simple fact is that she showed up at 7:40 PM for a candidates' night that started at 7 PM. By the time she showed up, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, had just finished delivering his opening remarks.

What could have made her late? Here's the top ten reasons, as determined by my readers.

10. Traffic jam in densely populated slate belt.

9. Baking cookies.

8. Padding salary at POM.

7. She's still looking for that damn shoe.

6. She was busy memorizing the names of world leaders.

5. She wasn't late. Everyone else was early.

4. Was waiting forever for "light" rail.

3. She was busy practicing a Southern accent for the slate belt.

2. Making plans for her next campaign.

1. Standing in line during bank runs at Wachovia and Sovereign.

Northampton County Hangmen Eye Next Victim

A cabal of Northampton County Council, known as the Hangmen, are attempting to curry favor with a green T-shirted lynch mob known as AFSCME. So a few weeks ago, they demanded the resignation of Connie Sutton Falk, the county's Human Resources Director. She was denied both notice as well as an opportunity to be heard, a basic due process violation. County workers loved it. After all, does anyone anywhere ever like Human Resources?

Well, the hangmen are at it again, and this time, they're attempting to string up a regular, career service, employee.

Their latest victim is the Director of the Criminal Division, Leigh Ann Fisher. She had been invited to yesterday's Finance Committee to explain the efforts her office makes to collect restitution. Before she could get started, council prez Ann McHale ambushed her.

Citing vague allegations of "condescending" emails and "complaints", the imperious Ann McHale demanded to know what is going on. Fisher asked for details, but McHale declined, stating that information is classified. In America, you may have a right to face your accuser, but there must be some exception in Northampton County.

What McHale is really doing is pandering for more union votes in a quest to become next county exec. If that involves stepping all over an office supervisor, too bad. What the green T-shirted lynch mob known as AFSCME fails to comprehend is that she'll step all over them, too, when it becomes politically expedient.

If you chop down all the trees in the forest to get the devil, where will you hide when the devil turns on you?

Bennett Late For Her Own Debate

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa was there. So was Controller Steve Barron. Snarling in the front row - all by himself - sat the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle. A small audience of about thirty people came to last night's Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens Debate at the Slate to watch congressional wannabe Siobhan "Sam" Bennett and LV Congressman Charlie Dent mix it up. The audience even included six blue T-shirted members of the Sierra Club, who came with homemade signs to promote Bennett.

But where was Sam?

Two popular and dedicated public servants, state reps. Craig Dally and Rich Grucela, started things off at 7 PM. Neither has an opponent. Rich spoke about his desire to eliminate the state senate while Craig addressed the need for a state constitutional convention. Though they belong to different parties, Dally and Grucela share a bipartisan approach to issues, looking for areas of agreement as opposed to division.

Congressman Dent listened attentively, but where was Sam?

Around 7:35 PM, the debate moderator told the audience he was "extremely disappointed" that Bennett had failed to show up, and someone blurted out she was on her way. She showed up just as Charlie Dent was finishing his opening remarks. According to The Express Times, she was seven minutes late. Actually, it was closer to forty minutes. Debate rules had to be repeated for her. This is amazing conduct from a person who claimed Dent had been ducking her.

When she finally introduced herself and her campaign, it was in some kind of affected Southern accent. She also kept her coat on the entire evening.

Neither candidate said anything new. Questions were uninspired. Most disappointing, and unlike the format in years past, candidates were not permitted to interrogate each other. That's what distinguished Charlie Dent and Steve Barron in previous debates. That feature was dropped last night.

At the end of the allotted hour, the debate moderator was initially going to reward Bennett's tardiness by allowing her to debate on her own. But everyone just started getting up and the evening ended, not with a bang, but a whimper.

Northampton County Exec Stoffa to Undergo Hip Replacement

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa has been in a lot of pain for the past few years. He needs a new council, one that actually wants to work with him. But more than that, he needs a new hip. Late next week, John will undergo a hip replacement, and I wish him a speedy recovery. Next year, there will be a council replacement, too.

State Rep. Candidate Mike Welsh Refuses to Meet the Press

Between January 1, 2008 and today, state rep. Jennifer Mann has been mentioned in seventy-five stories by The Morning Call. Over that same time frame, her opponent in the race for the state house, Mike Welsh, has been featured just once. As a member of the state house, Jennifer Mann would naturally be a part of some important stories. But this also gives her an unfair advantage.

Recently, Welsh debated Mann at Tempo Public Square, which you can see yourself right here. Mann clearly took Welsh too lightly. When he began to score points by stressing the need more police in Allentown, instead of a damn hockey rink, she actually started interrupting the moderators, refusing to abide by the rules.

In a fair fight, she loses. But that won't happen, and Welsh knows it. That's why you gotta' love his decision to tell The Morning Call gods, very politely, to stick it. They recently descended from the mountain to glance in his direction. Here's his amazing response.

Mr. Glenn Kranzley
Editor of the Opinion Pages
The Morning Call
101 N Sixth St
Allentown, Pa. 18105

Dear Mr. Kranzley,

Thank you for your invitation to meet with members of the Morning Call Editorial Board to discuss my candidacy as well as your possible recommendation in this election. Unfortunately, I must decline your invitation. I am declining because the lack of coverage of my campaign over the last seven months leads me to believe the endorsement of my opponent is a foregone conclusion.

During my campaign I have focused on critical issues that are facing our community, including the growing crime and gang problem which I believe is the root of Allentown's troubles. Despite issuing numerous press releases and inviting the Morning Call to press conferences where I have outlined solutions to these problems, there has not been one line written about my campaign in your newspaper. For example:

• You chose not to cover my opening press conference in April of this year.
• Despite the presence of a Morning Call reporter at my August press conference nothing appeared in your newspaper. Follow up phone calls pertaining to this issue to Ardith Hilliard and Peter Leffler proved fruitless, as I was told the omission of the press conference was a “glitch in the system”. I was asked to re-submit this information again. I then personally hand delivered this information – again I was ignored.
• My request for an article on the Editorial page pertaining to HB 1189 (Commonwealth Officers Act) aimed at increasing the number of police officers in Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley communities was rejected.
• My latest news release in September was also ignored.

I have enclosed copies of each of these communications for your perusal.

There are only two conclusions I can reach from this experience: either the Morning Call has made a conscious decision to ignore my campaign, or your newspaper has pre-determined who they will endorse and support. Since I recently read a glowing article about my opponent's mis-directed efforts to bring a hockey arena to Allentown, I think your bias has been made perfectly clear.

I sincerely hope that I am proven wrong and that the Morning Call will begin providing fair coverage of my campaign. Until that happens, I will continue to take my campaign to the residents of Allentown. It is ultimately their endorsement that matters most in this campaign.

Sincerely,

Mike Welsh

Greetings From Osceola Mills

I'm writing this blog entry from my son's home in Osceola Mills, located about thirty miles away from PSU. He lives in a big old house with his pretty fiancee, Brandy, and a rambunctious chocolate lab nam ed Otis. He even has a two car garage and a brick driveway. His home costs him less than my monthly rent for an efficiency apartment in Nazareth.

Otis and I are sleeping downstairs tonight. I hope he doesn't snore.

I finally got here after about seven hours of driving a rusted out jeep with no radio. Of course, I also got lost. Yep, I'm a title searcher who can get lost in Nazareth. I loved it. The autumn colors here are breathtaking, and there are plenty of neat little places where people grow vegetables and raise animals. They're called farms.

I stopped at one of them and bought some homemade soap for Brandy. Imagine that! Soap.

No Promenade here, baby.

I stopped at another farm so I could call in for a very important telephone press conference with Congressman Charlie Dent. When I chimed in, there were already fifteen people on the line, including the local MSM and somebody from Roll Call. They were next to their PCs. I was sitting close to a tractor, which unfortunately started in the middle of the conference, making it impossible for anyone to hear until I moved next to a cow.

Sorry, guys.

Now, I'm sitting here with Otis, swilling coffee and pecking away on the keyboard. My son crashed long ago.

In the middle of this small town, I have not heard a car drive by for over two hours.

There's something strangely familiar about this place.

Not that many years ago, it could have been called the Lehigh Valley.

Not anymore.

Otis does snore.

Dent Condemns Bennett's Fact Free Campaign

In a telephone news conference late yesterday afternoon, LV Congressman Charlie Dent condemned challenger Siobhan "Sam" Bennett for statements "designed to cause panic and fear" in the midst of a national financial and economic crisis. Bennett had claimed, falsely, that two local banks had recently folded, and claimed that was somehow Dent's fault. Her campaign manager was later forced to request that her comments be edited because she had misspoke.

It wouldn't be the first time.

Charlie Dent has long maintained that "if the truth and Sam Bennett ever came into contact, there would be a mighty collision."

Dent is right to be upset. Her cavalier remarks concerning two respected financial institutions were "beyond reckless" and actually undermines the bailout recently adopted by Congress. Her campaign manager is now claiming, just as irresponsibly, that these banks had "nearly failed." That remark flies in the face of his own statement, in which he admits these banks are "financially sound."

So Who's Running For Northampton County Council?

Northampton County's nine-member county council is its legislative branch. Five of these are elected at-large throughout the county. These are the seats currently held by Council VP Wayne Grube, Peg Ferraro, John Cusick, Charles Dertinger and Diane Neiper. Their terms expire next year.

Wayne Grube is ready to step down after a long and distinguished career. Every other at-large incumbent will seek re-election. This means Charles Dertinger will answer to voters for his abrasive behavior.

Aside from the incumbents, who else is running?

The names I'm hearing so far are Democrats Bill Hall (an independent thinker) and John Maher, who waged a smear campaign against Ron Angle last year. Allentown official Ismael Arcelay is reported to be interested as well.

Any Republicans? Mark Schwartz, who lost last year by a scant 91 votes, has already declared he's running again next year.

Reminder: Debate at the Slate Tonight!

If you can attend just one debate, do it tonight.

The Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens will host a candidates' night between Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent and challenger Sam Bennett tonight from 7:00 to 9:30 PM at Pen Argyl Borough Hall (Lookout Fire Hall).

I'm at PSU with my son today, but hope to make it back in time to watch this show.

Sam Bennett: Let's Not Let Facts Get in the Way

Above you will see Congressional candidate Sam Bennett's remarks concerning two local banks. You'll see them, but you won't hear them because she was completely untruthful. It's one thing to be dishonest about LV Congressman Charlie Dent. It's quite another to spread irresponsible stories about two local financial institutions.

Sam Bennett: Disclaimer From Her Own Debate

Above you will see the disclaimer that Lehigh Valley Congressional candidate Siobhan "Sam" Bennett was forced to request after Friday's debate with Charlie Dent. According to her campaign manager, Josh Levin, Bennett "misspoke" concerning the status of two local banks.

BLEEP! Bennett's Fact Free Debate

If you tuned into last night's televised debate between LV Congressman Charlie Dent and challenger Sam Bennett on Business Matters, you saw something that has never happened in local politics before. Amazingly, Channel 69 had to insert a disclaimer before the show ever aired. The station even had to blur her lips and blank her audio.

BLEEP!

Here's what happened. In her opening remarks, Bennett actually claimed that Dent had somehow caused the failure of two local banks. That's pretty serious if there is even an ounce of truth to it. There isn't. No local bank has failed, but 250 local business leaders sat with their mouths open as Bennett actually repeated her charge.

BLEEP!

At a time when we are all jittery and there is a crisis of confidence in our financial institutions, Bennett's accusation was not just baseless, but totally irresponsible.

She is pouring gasoline on a raging fire in a desperate and pitiful attempt to grab votes.

Sadly, her modus operandi in this campaign is a web of deceit. Rather than presenting a reasonable, liberal alternative to Charlie Dent, Bennett has littered this campaign with fabrication after fabrication. She has claimed, falsely, that Dent has suddenly become rich in Congress while refusing to reveal her own financial affairs. She blamed Dent, falsely, for Mack Truck's sudden decision to relocate in North Carolina. She accused Charlie of refusing to debate her when she herself failed to appear at two separate forums. She maintains that Dent opposed a minimum wage increase even though he actually voted for three bills and is one of thirty Congressmen who insisted that Congress remain in session until that was accomplished. According to her, Charlie opposes veterans' benefits. That should be news to the VFW, which just endorsed him.

BLEEP!

As if this barrage of lies is not enough, Bennett compounded things last night by constantly interrupting Dent with "That's not true." Over and over, as Congressman Dent tried to speak, she continued talking. She even had to stop the debate to retrieve a shoe that somehow fell off her foot - a wardrobe malfunction. I suppose that could have been worse.

BLEEP!

Whatever credibility Bennett has left as a candidate was destroyed last night. It certainly makes you wonder what value she places in honesty.

Maybe her fingers are crossed.

Northampton County's Lean 2009 Budget

When Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham released his 2009 budget, he gave a flowery address to the Greater LV Chamber of Commerce. In contrast, Northampton County Executive John Stoffa's budget message is, like him, much more laconic. Just the facts. The county nursing home, Gracedale, is killing us. Property tax revenue is stagnant. The proposed $330 million budget is 10% lower than the last one.

On behalf of the Administration, we are pleased to submit a no-tax increase budget for fiscal year 2009. We have done well to keep costs down: the millage rate will remain at 10.8 mills. A no tax increase budget is proposed despite the following notables:

* Property tax revenue is stagnant due primarily to the decline in the housing market.

* The one-half mill of tax approved in the budget for 2007 remains committed to "Open Space."

* The investment portfolio, cash balances and interest earned are all down due to the economy.

* There is a $25 million decline in estimated revenue and corresponding expenditures due to the elimination of the 2008 General Obligation Bond issue ($20 million) and the line of credit ($5 million) in 2009.

* The Administration is proposing that there be no increase in positions for 2009 (the Courts have requested three (3) new positions).

* The largest increase, $6 million, was in the personnel costs category. This increase was primarily the result of new labor contracts that provided wage increases.

* There is an increase of $487,000 for current and future retiree health care.

* Actuarially determined contributions to the retirement fund increased from $2.4 million to $5.1 million.

* Heating and gasoline costs, mileage reimbursement, and postage have all significantly increased.

* The County contribution to Gracedale is now at $6.9 million up from the original amount of $381,000 in 2008.

* An additional $585,000 in county property tax is earmarked for Children, Youth and Families - an alarmingly expensive trend as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continually fails to properly fund Department of Human Services programs.

* The additional $500,000 earmarked for the Area Agency on Aging in the 2008 budget continues for 2009.

* Of the $82 million in property taxes, $52 million (63%) is earmarked for the Courts and court related activities.

* The Administration has committed $75,000 for a feasibility study to explore the possibility of extending rail service from New Jersey into the Lehigh Valley.

* Funding for a regional crime data center is not included in the proposed budget, but the Administration would support a budget amendment to provide $500,000 when gaming revenue becomes available.

* The need for property tax reassessment goes unanswered as the common level ratio is now at 27% rather than the 50% pre-determined ratio.

In summation, the proposed 2009 budget is $330 million, 10.3% lower than last year. The tax rate will remain the same for the second consecutive year.

The Wall Street Meltdown, As Explained to an Idiot (Me!)

Despite yesterday's 936 point Wall Street rally, many of us remain deeply worried about our economy. Some of us believe the $700 bailout is the only thing standing between us and another Great Depression. Others, like a blogger named Ryan, condemn Congressman Charlie Dent for finally agreeing to an infusion of public money. "I am seriously considering voting for a "write-in" rather than yourself. Sam Bennet is an idiot but you have stabbed me in the back... what really can I do here? Please contact me and tell me I still have some reason to vote for you."

This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass, is one of my favorite radio programs. But it's the last place I'd look for an explanation of our current financial crisis. But Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning, who himself is something of a financial maven, has recommended the program because it explains high finance in terms I can understand. We're all aware that there's simply too much debt. We're all aware that subprime lending and a runaway housing market helped create this mess. But few of us, myself included, know a damn thing about the commercial paper market or credit default swaps. Yet those seemingly obscure concepts have played a major role in our meltdown. Here's a summary of this very interesting program.

Commercial Paper Market

This commercial paper market are business IOUs, short-term loans, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars every day. A major business might need $50 million today that it can pay back tomorrow. It's relatively boring business.

It stopped being boring when the most liquid market in the world suddenly froze up.

How did this happen?

That's because of money market mutual funds, which are like savings accounts, traditionally one of the safest places to store money. Money market managers are the folks who often make these short-term corporate loans. Money market managers always seek a stable $1.00 net asset value (NAV): they aim never to lose money. If a fund's NAV drops below $1.00, one says that the fund "broke the buck". For the first time ever, one of the biggest and oldest funds, The Reserve Fund, "broke the buck." Its share dropped from $1.00 to 97 cents. It actually lost depositors' money.

How did this happen?

The Reserve Fund did so with when it gave Lehman Brothers a short-term loan in exchange for commercial paper. Lehman suddenly went bankrupt. All the money lent was gone, and The Reserve Fund was in trouble. Then another mutual fund broke the buck. Money market managers freaked out, and refused to lend any more money, preferring instead to invest their money in the U.S. government. As the panic spreads, no one will lend any money at all, which pretty much destroys capitalism.

Because businesses can't get money, they have to cancel or delay plans. McDonalds, for example, had to delay the installation of latte machines. General Electric, the second largest US company, saw its stock prices fall because it was unable to borrow the money needed to function.

There's another financial product making our financial crisis even worse.

Credit Default Swaps

Credit default swaps, called "financial weapons of mass destruction" by Warren Buffet, classically apply to bond owners who want to transfer the risk of default to someone else. You enter into an agreement paying a third party a percentage every year, and he agrees to pay you if the bond defaults.

What happened is that people who don't even hold the bonds began basically to bet on them. It's like buying insurance for a house you don't own. There are $5 trillion in bonds, but $60 trillion in credit default swap protection worldwide. AIG had to be rescued because it had promised over $400 billion to people holding credit swap default agreements with them, $400 billion it did not have.

The same groups often both buy and sell credit default swap agreements, and there is no way of knowing who in that chain has and does not have the money to pay in the event of a default. After Lehman Brothers, it became apparent that many guarantors simply lacked the capital to pay. Default credit swaps, unlike options and other financial arrangements, are unregulated.

Would it have helped to have swap cops?

That idea was first rejected in 1998, during the Clinton administration, because these products are exchanged by sophisticated financial institutions. Government would just get in the way. In 2000, Congress actually decided (95 to 0) against regulating credit default swap agreements, right around Christmas.

It was a bipartisan failure.

Will the bailout help?

It is a severe and scary crisis, but spending $700 billion will help. Under the Paulson plan, we are about to become the proud owners of a big load of bullshit burgers, i.e. toxic assets. (I give you $1,000, but take all the crap out of your garage). A clear majority of economists prefer a stock injection plan. (I still give you $1,000, but now I own part of your house, and I can evict you if you have not measured up). We still give the bank money, but become a part owner. Conservative Republicans and banks themselves really hate this idea.

Under the bill that passed, the stock injection plan is a possibility.

The majority of economists believe this plan is probably the best we can get, and we have to do something sooner than later.

Dent-Bennett Debate Airs on Channel 69 Tonight

Tony Iannelli's Business Matters, which airs Monday nights at 7:30 PM on Channel 69, will be featuring the LV Congressional race for the next two weeks. Congressman Charlie Dent and challenger Sam Bennett go toe to toe. After the show airs, you can watch the debate online and even cast a vote for the debate winner.

Former LV Canvasser Claims ACORN & CWA Have Quotas

On Saturday, I told you that I told you state Republicans are getting a little nutty over ACORN. They seek a statewide investigation into voter fraud even though this grass roots organizer ended its registration efforts last May, at least in the Lehigh Valley.

Then I heard from a fellow, a left-leaning commenter who would rather stay below the radar. He spent a few days working for Allentown's Clean Water Action, an organization that by its own admission runs "muscular and effective grassroots campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates, and support candidates who are committed to protecting our waters, our health, and our future."

Here's what he tells me. Remember, this is just one person's perspective.

We had a kid work one day with us who use to work for ACORN. Apparently ACORN in Allentown would pull people off the street and ask, 'Would you like to make $10 a hour?' Needless to say, this is not the most crafty way to get good canvassers. A ad in the Treasure Hunt would be better. Many ACORN canvassers/community organizers, may very well be poorly educated and desperate to make quotas.

I was cut loose from Clean Water Action after three days for not meeting fundraising quotas. Had I maybe made up names, I could have stayed. All these non-profits that go door to door have crazy quotas. These groups are rather shady and are definitely pro-Democrat.

Clean Water Action will be hired (I sat in the meeting my last day) by a still unknown but Democratic campaign to do the GOTV. CWA is a non-profit. This sounds like a for profit venture. They have really been stumping for Bennett and may most likely do her GOTV.

Clean Water has a PAC that is permitted to engage in political activity. My concern is that groups like Clean Water and ACORN are sloppy when they canvass. I don't buy the theory that there is some deep, dark conspiracy to steal the election. I do believe, however, that paying people to canvass for registrations, should probably be illegal.

Charlie Dent Endorsed by VFW

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent received an important endorsement on Friday. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) political arm has endorsed his re-election campaign.

Larry Rivers, Director of the VFW Political Action Committee, stated that the "endorsement is based on [Charlie's] strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues.”

Rivers also notes that the “VFW-PAC endorses only those candidates for federal office who support our nations’ veterans and stand in support of a strong national defense.”

Naturally, Charlie was proud. “This endorsement means a great deal to me. I’ve worked to make sure that our veterans and our fellow citizens now serving in the Armed Forces receive the support and respect they so greatly deserve.”

At the same time that this endorsement was issued, Dent also learned that the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) has given him a grade of “A” on their 2008 Congressional Report Card.

The IAVA graded Congress on issues like veterans health care, expanding the G.I. Bill and providing housing opportunities for veterans.

Previously, in both televised ads, news releases and during a debate at the Jewish Community Center and in televised ads, congressional candidate Siobhan "Sam" Bennett has insisted that Dent refuses to support veternas. "[Charlie] votes against mandatory rest periods for veterans. When those veterans come home, he votes against health care and job training for those same veterans.”

Apparently, veterans disagree.

Representative Dent’s campaign manager, Shawn Millan, noted that the VFW endorsement and the “A” rating from the IAVA shows that charges made by Siobhan “Sam” Bennett regarding Charlie’s voting record on veterans’ issues are false.

“Once again a third party source, with far greater credibility than Bennett could ever hope to muster, has stepped forward to prove that the allegations she makes are reckless, off-the-mark, and not to be trusted,” said Millan.

“In other words, par for the course for her,” he added.

Ordinarily, I'd include a reaction from the Bennett camp. But after I criticized their mean-spirited attack at Rudy Giuliani last week, they've decided to cut me off.

Going Into Final Game, Bethlehem Steelers Undefeated

Running back Dat Lambert (#28) of the Bethlehem Steelers (90 lb. or less), breaks loose and scampers off for a score in a close game this weekend against Allentown's Alton Park. The Steelers are undefeated (7-0) with one game remaining next Saturday against the south side's Bethlehem Saints. All of these teams are part of the 17-team Suburban Youth Football League (SYFL), whose goal is "teaching area youth the basic fundamentals of football, discipline and good sportsmanship."
Photo Credit: Michelle Dimmitt, mother of Abraham Dimmitt (#26). (She missed her calling).